Our current history studies about President Theodore Roosevelt remind us of our 2004 summer vacation, a few years ago.
Since my 8yo son 2was a huge train fan, I scheduled a train ride in upstate New York.
Not wanting just any railroad, I searched high and low on-line for the perfect one.
The most scenic one near the location where we were staying, was the Upper Hudson Railroad which would take us for a ride along the Hudson River in the Adirondack Mountains.
Arriving early to the North Creek Depot, we toured the terrific train display set in the mountains and village.
Suddenly we stumbled upon a fascinating piece of history!
Theodore Roosevelt was there!
Famous for enjoying time in the wilds, Theodore Roosevelt was vacationing in Vermont when he heard that President McKinley had been shot.
Immediately Vice President Roosevelt traveled to Buffalo to visit the president in the hospital.
Intending to stay at the Iroquois Hotel, Ansley Wilcox invited Roosevelt to stay at his home.
Wilcox, who was educated as a lawyer at Yale and Oxford, famously represented a landmark court case at the Supreme Court.
Meeting Roosevelt in the 1880s after Governor Grover Cleveland appointed them a special project regarding civil service reform, Wilcox formed a long friendship with Roosevelt.
Later they created the Niagara Reservation (around Niagara Falls), the oldest state park in America.
Meanwhile McKinley appeared to be healing well after surgery.
Concerned that Roosevelt’s visit in Buffalo would raise alarm that the president was near death, they encouraged Roosevelt to continue his vacation.
Joining his family in the Adirondacks, Roosevelt arrived at the Tahawus Club in Newcomb, New York.
About 12 miles from the private outdoor recreational club was the tallest mountain in New York state, at 5,344 feet elevation.
Bushwhacking a path, Roosevelt and a team of professional guides journeyed to the mountain to hike to the top.
Meanwhile a telegram arrived at the club for the vice president.
Tasked with locating the vice president somewhere on Mount Marcy, Harrison Hall, one of the club’s guides endeavored to deliver the telegram.
Finding Roosevelt at Lake Tear of the Clouds, Hall presented the telegram announcing McKinley had taken a turn for the worse.
Quickly Roosevelt suspended his vacation to travel by a series of stagecoaches 35 miles, through bad weather, to the North Creek Railroad Depot.
Roosevelt learns he’s the next president
Upon arrival at North Creek, Roosevelt learned that McKinley had died.
Catching the train from North Creek, he rode to Buffalo to pay respects to McKinley and his widow.
Wilcox again invited Roosevelt to stay his home, which was quiet due to being empty of servants and other family members away on vacation.
Roosevelt soon took the oath of office from Federal Judge John R. Hazel at the Wilcox home.
Surrounded by 50 dignitaries, family members, and cabinet officials, Theodore Roosevelt thus became the 26th president of the United States.
Remarkably there were no photographers present.
Our Train Ride along the Hudson
We had a great time riding on the railroad and looking at some of the same scenery Roosevelt would have seen.
